The Montgomery Canal

 Saturday 16 September Ellesmere to Queen’s Head on the Montgomery Canal (7 miles, 5 locks)

Backing out of the arm, we emptied loo cassettes and filled up with water before going on “The Monty”. We had a chat with an adventurous young canoeist, who was on his way up to Llangollen Horseshoe Falls, twenty miles upstream. The famous fly boat butty Saturn was moored behind her motor, Swan. Further on, sheep were busy keeping someone’s lawn short!

After an uneventful trip to Frankton, the CRT Volunteer helped us down the locks, a double staircase followed by two ordinary locks. Nine boats descended and four ascended today. Most seemed to be moored at the services a short distance away. 

At Graham Palmer Lock, his eroded monument has been refurbished. Well done! Some army Black Hawk helicopters like Prince Harry flew came past low overhead.

 

Soon we passed over the Perry Aqueduct , then past an old transshipment basin to the old packet boat wharf, where it was shallow.

Along a mile long embankment, many trees had toppled over, or been pushed, revealing the plastic and concrete beneath. Odd.

We moored on rings by the canoe club, then had first class meals at the Queen’s Head pub (Paella and a chicken dish).

Sunday 17 September Queen’s Head to Crickheath Wharf and back (8 miles, 6 locks)

Todays mission is to go to the new head of navigation at Crickheath Wharf, which has added over a mile of canal. The three Aston locks have nature reserves beside them.

There is a decent services block below the locks. Later, we passed the Canal Central cafe before Liana wound up the lift bridge at Gronwen Wharf, the old head of navigation.

The following pictures are all of the new stretch of canal, which we have only walked before.

You can see Annie moored beyond bridge 85, here. 

There was a big compound for plant where a brand new canal bridge 86 is being constructed. We walked as far as Crickheath Bridge 87.

Monday 18 September Queen’s Head to Ellesmere (7 miles, 5 locks)

After a rainy night, it was cloudy but dry, so we set off the three miles to Graham Palmer lock. Overhanging trees, often oak or silver birch as well as the ubiquitous willow, plus high sedge growth on both sides, meant John hooted the horn to warn any oncoming boats! 

Shallowness can limit your speed in places. John was wearing his wet weather trousers, just in case. In some places the offside is fenced off to give safe room for plants and wildlife.

Boats were moored at the services close to the locks. As we neared the lock, the rain started and gradually worsened. Full wet weather gear and umbrellas were needed by John. Liana managed with an umbrella. 

Reaching the Frankton bottom lock, no one was around, so we started up it. A kind young man on a boat following us closed the top gate for John as he drove Annie out, as Liana was readying the second lock up.